Twentieth meeting of the CPAM

Present at the meeting were members of the Filipino, Indian, Sri Lankan, Maronite, Rumanian, Sudanese and Ge’ez rite chaplaincies, priests and sisters, the CPAM social worker, two representatives of the prison ministry team and those working with the Israeli NGOs and the Bedouin. The opening prayer was based on Pope Francis’s Message for Lent.

After a round of introductions, Sister Azezet and Dr. Diddy Mymin Kahn presented their new book, “A Guide to Recovery for Survivors of Torture”. In the discussion that followed the presentation, it became clear that this book is an important pastoral tool for all migrant ministries as so many migrants experience the trauma and stress of alienation and abuse.

Following the presentation, the meeting continued with an agenda of important points for the coordination of the Church’s mission:
1. The evaluation of the recollection day held on December 7, 2015.
2. The evaluation of the celebration of the World Migrant Day on January 17, 2016.
3. The results of the visit to Holot.
4. The planning of another Year of Mercy recollection day and the joint passing through the Gate of Mercy in Gethsemane.
5. Activities among the migrant youth.
6. Activities among the migrant sick.

At the end of the discussion of these and other points, Father Bienvenidas presented the idea of forming a program to train extraordinary Eucharistic ministers who could help in the mission of the CPAM. The discussion was lively and will continue.

At the end of the meeting, the date of the next meeting was agreed upon.